Demountable building



Oct. 11, 1966 E. w. MARTIN DEMOUNTABLE BUILDING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 12, 1965 INVENTOR ELMER w. MART/N QJKKWM Oct. 11, 1966 E w, -rm3,277,620

DEMOUNTABLE BUILDING Filed April 12, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORELME'R VV. MART/N w Maw 1965 E. w. MARTIN DEMOUNTABLE BUILDING 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 12, 1965 IN VENTOR ELMER VV. MART/N Z5 JffwalE. W. MARTIN Oct. 11, 1966 DEMOUNTABLE BUILDING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledApril 12, 1965 INVENTOR ELMER W- MARTIN ZMJF United States Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my copending application SerialNo. 267,087 filed March 22, 1963, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a structure having a number ofprefabricated parts designed to be packaged and shipped as a unit forassembly at a building site, which parts are so adapted as to be rapidlydisassembled, if so required, to be readily moved to another site forreerection, and are known as demountable buildings.

Suitably modified, these structures are well adapted to provideradiation protection such as might be required in radiation observationposts, fallout shelters, and the like. Such embodiment essentially is ademountable building having as an inner shell a second, smaller,demountable building inside the larger building, the intervening spacefilled with sand, gravel, or other suitable material, and closabletunnel entrance means to the interior.

In previous embodiments of my building I have had to deal with maximumroof (snow) loads of, say, 55 pounds per square foot. In the novelembodiment above, the roof strength of the inner building becomesparticularly important since the inner roof may be subject to loads of200 pounds per square foot, and more.

It will be realized that this large inner roof load will impose muchgreater foundation loads than heretofore. Further, such buildings mayrequire to be erected in winter conditions upon'frozen ground, orhastily erected upon a site having poor bearing qualities. Thussubsidence is likely, and accordingly suitable provision againstsubsidence effects is provided.

I have been able to overcome these and other difficulties with theimprovements of the present invention, which improvements result also instronger and cheaper construction and erection when applied todemountable buildings of the previous general type.

The present invention consists essentially of three major elements;floor panels, wall panels and roof panels. The invention also includesan external band or bands together with miscellaneous parts.

The improved structure does not use a sill under the wall panels, doesnot require flashing at the junction of wall and floor, provides meansto level the floor after subsidence of the peripheral foundation, avoidsthe use of external capping and flashing members on the radial roofjoints, or of separate rafter-like members, and has further advantageswhich will be apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

An object of the invention is to provide a demountable building havingthree major elements; floor panels, wall panels and roof panels; andmeans to join these elements to one another.

A further object is to provide vertical adjusting means central of thefloor assembly to compensate for peripheral foundation subsidence.

A still further object is to provide a wall panel having, external ofthe bottom member thereof, an outer skin extending below the lower edgeof the floor panel thus to provide integral flashing means to protectthe junction of Wall and floor.

The foregoing comprising a demountable building, a still further objectis to provide an exterior wall and roof in spaced relationship to thewall and roof first above mentioned and of generally similarconstruction thereto, the space between the walls and roofs adapted tobe filled ice with radiation shielding material, tunnel means to provideaccess to the interior, and shielded closure means for the tunnel.

These and other objects, and further advantages, will become apparent asthe disclosure proceeds.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan of the invention, part in section.

FIGURE 2 is an elevation also part in section.

FIGURE 3 is a plan of a substantially triangular floor panel.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the side edges of the floorpanels.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a floor levellingdevice.

FIGURE 6 is an elevation of a wall panel.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional plan of the side edges of the wallpanels.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged vertical section showing the floor and wallpanel securing means.

FIGURE 9 is a plan of a roof panel.

FIGURE 10 is a detail section showing the wall and roof panel connectingmeans.

FIGURE 11 is a detail section of the side edges of the roof panels.

FIGURE 12 is an elevation, part in section, of a modified form of theinvention.

FIGURE 13 is an elevation of an inner Wall panel.

FIGURE 14 is a plan of an inner roof panel.

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the modification ofthe invention.

FIGURE 16 is a section taken on the line 1616 of FIG. 15.

As shown best in FIGURES 2 and 12 the building is adapted to be erectedupon a foundation 10 which may be a substantially circular mound ofgravel 11. A plastic sheet 12 may be laid upon the gravel and supportedon this base is a centrally disposed concrete block 14 andcircumferentially spaced blocks 15.

The building consists of a floor 18 which is formed by a number ofsubstantially triangular panels 19, see FIG- URE 3. Each floor panelconsists of a frame made up of converging joists 21 which are connectedby transverse members 22. At the butt end of the panel, each joist isfitted with a bearer 23 which is disposed at right angles thereto andthe two bearers are joined together at the centre of the frame. Theframe is enclosed by lower and upper sheets of plywood 24 and 25respectively. A V-shaped groove 27, see FIGURE 4, is formed in the outerside edge of each joist, and seated in the complementary grooves ofadjoining panels are cylindrical dowel splines 28, preferably of wood.

In FIGURE 5 it will be seen that a levelling device is mounted on theblock 14 and this device suitably may consist of a plate 31 on which avertical bolt 32 is rotatably mounted. The bolt is fitted with a nut 33having a wide horizontal flange 34. The spaced apart tips of the floorpanels rest upon the flange 34 and the slotted upper end of the bolt 32projects between said tips. A

removable cover 35 is secured to the panel tips above the bolt. Thedevice 30 serves to bring the centre of the floor into the horizontalplane of the periphery thereof during erection. When settling occursduring the life of the structure, the periphery of the floor will becomelower than the centre, the device then serves to take out the centralhump.

The building has a polygonal wall 37 formed of rectangular panels 38. InFIGURE 6 it will be seen that each wall panel consists of a frame madeup of side studs 39 which are connected by horizontal members 40 andbottom and top rails 41 and 42 respectively. A sheet of plywood 43covers the interior face of the frame and the exterior is similarlycovered by a sheet 44. As best seen 3 in FIGURE 8, the sheet 44 extendsdownwards beyond the under side of the floor panel, whereby it becomesunnecessary to provide separate flashing at this point.

The side edges of the studs are bevelled as shown in FIGURE 7 so thatthe wall panels may be angularly disposed to one another and said sideedges are also provided with V-shaped grooves 46 in which dowels 47 arelodged. Additionally to secure the wall panels against horizontaldisplacement, one or more bands 43 encircle the wall 37 and the ends ofthese bands are connected together by turnbuckles, not shown.

FIGURE 8 shows the preferred means of securing the wall panels to thefloor panels. The bearers 23 are provided with a centrally disposedopenings 59 which are aligned with openings 51 drilled in the bottomrail 41 near the studs. Suitably, the openings 50 and 51 are jig drilledto ensure accurate fit in assembly.

The openings 51 are countersunk to receive nuts 52 and these members areengaged by bolts 53 which extend upwardly through the aligned openings.It will be noted that each wall panel is centered above the joists, viz.it extends across two adjoining floor panels with the groove faces ofthe studs being disposed above the joint between the bearers, seeparticularly FlGURE l.

The building is provided with a pyramidal roof 55 formed of triangularpanels 56. As shown in FIGURE 9 the roof panel has a frame formed ofconverging rafters 57 which are connected by cross members 58. Plywoodsheets 59 and 60 cover the inner and outer faces of the roof panelframe.

Each roof panel rests upon a single wall panel with the upper edge ofthe top rail 42 being suitably bevelled as shown in FIGURE 10. The walland roof panels are secured together by nuts 62 and bolts 63 with thebolts extending through openings 64 and 65 formed in the rails 42 andmembers 58A respectively. The roof panels are also secured together bydowels 68 seated in complementary V-shaped grooves 69 formed in thepanel members 57. Above the dowel receiving grooves the edges of themembers 57 and the edges of the sheets 60 are bevelled so as to define achannel 76, see FIGURE 11. This channel is adapted to be filled with asuitable water-proofing compound 71 so as to provide an effective sealbetween the roof panels.

This construction eliminates the capping, flashing and similar membersfound in previous constructions.

The narrow ends of the roof panels define a polygonal opening 74, andthis opening is closed by suitable cap 75, which is sealed against theentrance of moisture.

The above described construction provides adequate protection from theweatherbut if shelter from atomic fallout is required I propose to buildthe structure as shown particularly in FIGS. 12 to 16. This shelter isadapted to be erected on a similar foundation on which a central block14 and suitably spaced outer edge blocks are mounted as before. Thefloor 18A of the fallout shelter is made up of triangular panels 19A,the tips of which are supported by the levelling device 30.

Mounted on the floor panels 19A is an inner wall 37A formed ofv panels38A. The rectangular inner wall panels support an inner roof 55A made upof triangular panels 56A. A cap 75A forms a closure for the openingdefined by the tips of the roof panels 56A.

The floor, wall, roof panels and roof cap of the fallout shelter are ofthe same construction as in the previously described embodiment of theinvention but obviously are of proportionately smaller size. Bolts 53Asecure the wall panels to the floor panels as before and other bolts 63Asimilarly lock the wall and roof panels together. One or moreturnbucklefitted bands 48A encircle the inner wall 37A to apply clampingpressure to the several panels making up the inner structure.

Enclosing the inner structure is an outer building having a wall made upof the panels 38. A circular row of blocks 78 are mounted on thefoundation 10 and these blocks serve to support the abutting edges ofthe outer wall panels 38. The remainder of the outer shell of thebuilding is constructed substantially as previously described, however,it will be noticed that no flooring is laid between the inner and outerwalls of the shelter. Preferably the wall panels 38 and 38A areconnected together by suitably located stays 85.

Extending between the inner and outer walls is a walkin entrance 87consisting of a floor 8%, sides 89 and a roof 90. The fioor 88preferably is a short step up from the floor 18A of the shelter. A door92 is mounted on the outer end of the tunnel 87 and desirably this dooris a hollow structure filled with a suitable radiation shieldingmaterial.

The space between the inner and outer wall and roof panels is entirelyfilled with a material 94 such as sand and gravel. The fill 94 which iscontained by the inner and outer walls of the shelter rests on thefoundation 10 and occupies the space between the blocks 15 and 78 aroundthe entire polygonal shelter as well as beneath the floor 88 of theentrance. Thus, the slightly elevated floor 13A is completely sea-ledfrom weather and radiation and the Weight of the fill, except that whichoccupies the space above the inner roof, is supported by the foundation.The building then is firmly anchored to the ground and the load thestructure is required to support is reduced to a point where noadditional reinforcing members are required.

A building of this construction having such load supporting requirementsis subjected to a certain amount of settling over a period of time. Thelevelling device 39 therefore is extremely important, particularly sinceit is not vfeasible to provide access to the space beneath the fioorfrom the exterior of the shelter. As settling occurs the owner canperiodically level the door simply by raising the cover 35 and adjustingthe bolt 32 to raise or lower the tips of the floor panels.

I have pointed out that, in a fallout shelter as herein described, theroof of the inner building may be subject to very large loads, andaccordingly the inner building of a fallout shelter embodiment of myinvention is as above described. In certain circumstances it may bedesirable that the outer building be of the same construction. In othercircumstances, a main purpose of the outer construction may be to retainthe protective material, in which circumstances I may utilize anysuitable means to attain this end, for instance an outer building of aprevious demountable construction.

What I claim is:

l1. A demountable building comprising a fioor formed of substantiallytriangular panels supported upon a foundation, inner and outerperipheral walls each formed of rectangular panels, said inner wallpanels being supported on the outer edges of the floor panels, inner andouter pyramidal roofs each formed of substantially triangular panels,all the aforesaid panels being secured together in edge to edge relationby removable members seated in complementary panel side edge grooves,fastening members securing the inner wall panels to adjoining floor andinner roof panels and the outer wall panels to the outer roof panels,said inner and outer peripheral walls each being encircled by aconstricting band, said inner and outer pyramidal roofs each havingtheir apexes covered by a cap, a tunnel extending between the innerperipheral wall and the outer peripheral Wall to provide access to theinterior of the building, a closure for the outer end of the tunnel, afilling of radiation shielding material between the inner and outerperipheral walls and the inner and outer pyramidal roofs, said fillingextending below the lower edges of the inner and outer wall panels torest upon the foundation.

2. A demountable building as claimed in claim 1, and verticallyadjustable means accessible from the interior of the building supportingthe apexes of the floor panels.

3. A demountable building as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the foundatlon includes an outer circle of blocks and theabutting side edges of the outer wall panels bear 3 9 directly upon saidblocks. 1,002,014.

4. A demountable building as claimed in claim 3, 1,133,714- wherein theinner and outer peripheral walls are inter- 5 1,304,268 connected bystays. 581,193

3,068,534 :1 2/1962 Hu 52-237 X 3,152,666 10/1964 McC-rory et al. 52-237X 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 1962 Canada.

195 1 France.

1956 France.

1962 France.

1946 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Steel Shelters for Fallout Protection, prepared by 10American Iron and Steel Institute, December 1961, page 5.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Examiner.

1. A DEMOUNTABLE BUILDING COMPRISING A FLOOR FORMED OF SUBSTANTIALLYTRIANGULAR PANELS SUPPORTED UPON A FOUNDATION, INNER AND OUTERPERIPHERAL WALLS EACH FORMED OF RECTANGULAR PANELS, SAID INNER WALLPANELS BEING SUPPORTED ON THE OUTER EDGES OF THE FLOOR PANELS, INNER ANDOUTER PYRAMIDAL ROOFS EACH FORMED OF SUBSTANTIALLY TRIANGULAR PANELS,ALL THE AFORESAID PANELS BEING SECURED TOGETHER IN EDGE TO EDGE RELATIONBY REMOVABLE MEMBERS SEATED IN COMPLEMENTARY PANEL SIDE EDGE GROOVES,FASTENING MEMBERS SECURING THE INNER WALL PANELS TO ADJOINING FLOOR ANDINNER ROOF PANELS AND THE OUTER WALL PANELS TO THE OUTER ROOF PANELS,SAID INNER AND OUTER PERIPHERAL WALLS EACH BEING ENCIRCLED BY ACONSTRICTING BAND, SAID INNER AND OUTER PYRAMIDAL ROOFS EACH HAVINGTHEIR APEXES COVERED BY A CAP, A TUNNEL EXTENDING BETWEEN THE INNERPERIPHERAL WALL AND THE BUILDING, A CLOSURE FOR THE OUTER END OF THEINTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, A CLOSURE FOR THE OUTER END OF THE TUNNEL, AFILLING OF RADIATION SHIELDING MATERIAL BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTERPERIPHERAL WALLS AND THE INNER AND OUTER PYRAMIDAL ROOFS, SAID FILLINGEXTENDING BELOW THE LOWER EDGES OF THE INNER AND OUTER WALL PANELS TOREST UPON THE FOUNDATION.